Pirates in heavy discussions for new deal with Francisco Liriano, express interest in Brett Anderson & other rumblings

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In the past 24 hours, the Pittsburgh Pirates have gone from cautiously optimistic to now optimistic in their attempt to resign Francisco Liriano.

Pirate officials and Liriano’s agent Greg Genske held heavy discussions on a new deal Monday evening and movement has been made with discussions centering around a three year deal worth around $40 million with a potential option for a 4th year that could push the value of the deal past $50 million, a major league source said.

Exact parameters regarding a potential 4th year option have not been agreed upon but the sides are getting close to the completion of the deal that will be for three guaranteed years.

There has been some thought that Liriano planned to wait for Jon Lester to sign before committing to the Pirates but it’s possible an agreement is reached before the end of the Winter Meetings.

The Cubs, Giants, two front runners for Lester, have also shown interest in Liriano.

Elsewhere on the free agency front, the Pirates have also shown interest in lefty pitcher Brett Anderson who is another Genske client, a source confirms. Anderson, though, is coming off back surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training. Anderson is being looked at as a depth option. Any contract would likely include incentives.

The Pirates top choice has been to resign Liriano and Edinson Volquez. Pittsburgh made an early play to resign Volquez, making a two year offer, but the Volquez camp hasn’t acted on the offer yet.

Pittsburgh is also looking at the trade market. They inquired about Jeff Samardzija who was traded to the White Sox and have been in on Ian Kennedy as some scuttlebutt is Kennedy for Pedro Alvarez has been floated around but the Padres are looking for a more significant bat to move Kennedy.

Pirates scouts have long been recommending a pursuit of Kennedy and Pittsburgh looked into him at the trade deadline.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.